#what is padmavati controversy

[mylucky137276]

Padmavati row: A political weapon honed on mythology

A controversy has been raging over the release of the Hindi film Padmavati. As community leaders oppose its release on the grounds of hurt sentiment, others have offered huge bounties for beheading the filmmaker and the female lead. Various political leaders across states have spoken in favour of protesters. What is the political motivation behind this support? In this Business Standard Special, Mrinal Pande looks at why Padmavati has been used as a political weapon in the year 2017.

In today's India, one does not need to ask for history lessons. They come all the time from unexpected places, uninvited and longwinded. All castes, clans Gotras and Khaps seem to have discovered their own fantastical historical heroes and villains whom they would proudly whip out and flash to strangers like friends’ selfies, as filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali discovered – perhaps too late -- in Rajasthan. For the past eight centuries, the blade of Rajput history has been sharpened on the flint of myth and is now a deadly knife that politicians will use shamelessly against films and books based on myths and fairy tales, to carve up vote banks and people. Communities, both majority and minority, have at least one thing in common -- leaders who spare no excess in pursuing violent agendas. In Hindi, they have an evocative phrase gadey murdey ukhadana, or digging up ancient corpses, for the melodrama over an operatic film about a mythical figure, the Rajput queen, Padmavati.

The astounding ease with which public minds are being inflamed and manipulated by playing upon imagined insults and fears, is facilitated by the very nature of our masses still reeling under economic chaos and endemic joblessness among the young. We Indians are prone to taking life as it comes: literally and fatalistically. All the great events in history (wars, revolts, dethronings of tyrants), and in nature (wars, floods, earthquakes) remain to us our unavoidable Karma to which we must adjust. And since we mostly receive, not seek and research history, we become easy game for those who will strike the flints of myths of age old grievances against invaders from the West and light bonfires under the fragile fabric of a state poised for elections. And once the flames roar, no one buys the argument that barbarism in the name of historical justice is still barbarism. Not, it seems, even the Chief Ministers in many states who have taken an oath upon assuming office to maintain

[avani008]

Was just reading your Padamavaat fics and wondered, if you had to rewrite the story of the film within the scope of the original ending, what changes would you make to plot or characterisations? Like, an adaption of the legend was always going to end in jauhar, but your way of writing the women and their motivations feels far more real, even though you dislike the ending.

AHAHAHAHA OH POOR ANON HERE I GO.

Above all I would most like to change the movie so it doesn’t specifically focus on literal children being, presumably, peer-pressured into the fire. For one thing, I believe in real life, children and pregnant women were smuggled out of the fort and excluded from the ritual. For another, the movie already ignores the narrative of anyone who isn’t a high caste warrior and/or wife, so do we really have to have the horribleness of children being forced into self-sacrifice rubbed in our faces?

*shudders*

That said, I think you are spot on when you say that the film really had to end in jauhar --anything less would feel like a cheat. I absolutely understand that--but from a narrative standpoint, my problems with it are (1) the fact that Padmavati never really articulates her motivations and (2) the lack of any other options presented for the women.

So. Starting with (1)--yes, Padmavati gets that big speech to the other women about valor and HONOR!, etc. and in her goodbye to Ratan Sen, gives that nauseating speech about how she must take his permission even to give up her life--

(Apologies. But. You guys, even Sita, who usually--though unfairly--gets turned into an excessively devoted wife in most mainstream media very much believed that her life was her own and not her husband’s, to the point where she outright defies him in returning to her mother/effectively committing suicide. The sheer horror of that dialogue makes me shudder all over again)

--but that said, what prompts her. Is it that she’d rather die than be made a prisoner? Is it that she knows Alauddin’s character well enough that she knows that failing to capture her will break him more than defeat on the battlefield? *throws hands up, because your guess is good as mine*

Or, I propose a change that would honestly work with the rest of film as scripted/directed, albeit probably come off very controversial: have Padmavati, disgusted by Ratan Sen’s disrespectful behavior both during and after her rescue of him, realize that both her husband and her enemy are equally bad, and that, therefore, whether Chittor wins or loses, she will still be in the hands of a man she cannot love or trust. Have her--in a shoutout to Sita, honestly--throw herself into the fire, if you must, so that they both can’t have her, as neither of them deserve her. Have the film really bite into its misandrist undertones, because surely I’m not the only one who watched Ratan Sen and just. recoiled with horror?

Also, Padmavati aside, I really wanted to see--well, options for the other women, Even if you say that a woman would rather kill herself than be abused by the invaders (a valid choice! that’s fine!), I hate the implied victim-blaming of those who decide that they’d rather take their chances with the invaders, or those who’d rather die fighting, or those who’d rather try and escape, or--

The point is there is no one right way to be a woman, and I hate that the movie breaks down its roles to either Rajput swords or Rajput bangles (also, in a really gender-essential way, but that’s a different discussion). Even a quick cut of some women being offered the chance to fight/escape/something, and taking it, would allow me to watch that final scene with the awe I am meant to feel rather than the horror. Because in all those women, you guys know there were at least a few who didn’t want to go through with jauhar, and didn’t feel they could speak up--and that , to me, is chilling.

Another way to solve this problem, TBH, is to make the film’s Mehrunissa’s, too. Make her more than the sad cipher she is for most of the movie--for example, can you guys imagine the movie starting with the shot of the desert and the ostricth and Mehru’s voice narrating, “We none of us guessed what he would come to mean for us...” (Mehru would add more color and personality as a narrator than Generic Woman Voiceover.

Pair Mehru and Padmavati’s stories--as Padmavati adjusts to Rajput customs, Mehru navigates the court she grew up in, now turned upside down by Khilji’s chaos. As Padmavati tries to bond with Nagmati, have Mehru reach out to and interact with Jhatyapali. Give Mehru a voice, so that the movie’s not just one woman’s story, but many others--and then, as a bonus, you can lose the annoying and redundant scenes of “....did you know Khilji is crazy” and the weird and historically inaccurate homophobic nature of Khilji and Kafur’s interactions. (Why couldn’t they just take delight in each other’s wickedness, even if they had to both be villains? Why is Khilji so OTT abusive, and Kafur gross and depraved? Why are their scenes honestly just used to mirror the Wholesome Heterosexual Love of Ratan Sen and Padmavati?)

what that gives you, then, is an end where Mehru--in contrast to Padmavati--is a woman who chooses to survive, so that you give equal screen time and respect to both choices women made in those days, rather than just one. And plus, having Mehru’s wistful voiceover narrate Padmavati’s sacrifice warms my shipper heart would hypothetically end the movie on a “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” note (to paraphrase Hamilton), and hopefully dig into the characterization of both women.

I’m sorry for the enormous essay! Thank you for the interesting question and lovely compliments :)

[awesomedimple-blog1]

Padmavati's reels should be burnt in flames of Jauhar: Karni Sena chief on Business Standard. 'Jauhar' was a Hindu custom of self-immolation by women to escape foreign invaders

[napadivya-blog]

Padmaavat

I finally watched one of the most controversial films of the year. I’ve for the most part liked Sanjay Leela Bansali’s films but this one piqued my interest because of all the ongoing commotion.

Like all SLB films, Padmavati – yes, I’d like to call it that - had all the splendor and grandeur. Shahid Kapur’s night clothes were what I’d wear for my wedding. And Deepika Padukone’s low-key, day time jewelry were things I couldn’t afford. So pretty much a regular Sanjay Leela Bansali film.

Before watching the film, I read a few reviews about how the film was ‘too long’, ‘misogynistic’ and romanticizing Sati (Jauhar). What did I think? Yes, I agree the film was long. But any epic (noun not adjective) film is bound to be long. If the film was shorter and things happened in the blink of an eye, we’d have a problem about how it isn’t realistic. We are never satisfied!

Misogynistic, this is a tricky one. Let’s imagine the following situation. It is the year 3010 and they want to make a film about an event that happened in 2018. Would it be fair if they portrayed our world as fair? Would it be realistic if they said that men and women got equal pay? Would it be truthful if that film said women felt safe walking the streets any time of the day? If we are making a film about a different era, with a completely different society and way of living, how can we expect mindsets we ascribe to?

Finally, Sati (Jauhar). I didn’t for a moment think they romanticized Sati. I did think that Rajput’s put their pride and honor above everything (which really didn’t help them). But did Padmavati kill herself because of her love for her husband – Maharawal Ratan Singh? No. She, unfortunately, didn’t have too many choices. It was either dying or being raped and abused by her conqueror Allaudin Khilji.

Instead of all this, I’d suggest watching it for some wonderful acting. Ranveer’s narcissism, his childlike stubbornness and megalomaniac attitude. Shahid’s calmness, valor, gentleness and Rajput pride. Deepika’s strength, intelligence, breathtaking beauty and power. Jimmy's gender fluidity, his jealously and undying love for his Sultan! And finally, Aditi Rao Hydari, a gentle, beautiful soul caught in Khilji’s cuff.

[love-in-mind-palace]

Okay I gotta know - that hard electro music over the Bollywood film clip, do you know what the film is and where I could watch it? Because it really does look like the Tolkien dwarves in steroids and I need to see it now. 😂

Oh yes I definitely know haha. That is from a recent film, very controversial. Name is Padmaavat. Formerly known as Padmavati. The name change happened to the high controversy surrounding the film’s origin story. The lead actress got death threats, the movie was almost not released. Anyway. I haven’t watched it yet. I might. Idk. There is no way to watch it anywhere rn except in theatres, at least legally. I have heard mixed reviews mostly. If you wanna see the exact song sequence over which the electro music was superimposed, it’s here. The character is antagonist btw. Also there are videos available where Gangnam style is superimposed over the sequence. Double hilarious. 

[koffeewithkjo]

Padmavati has gotten enough PR (good and mostly bad) why would they be further milking it by Deepveer engagement rules?

Well, you said it yourself. Mostly bad. I’m just thinking of what I’d want to do if I were part of the film’s PR team, or even just the actors’ PR. But I’d want to give people a happy story to associate with them, not a controversy. I especially would be concerned that people vocally called Ranveer out for not publicly backing Deepika when she was being threatened. Showing all is well between them would be a priority (doubly so if it’s actually true lol).

This isn’t the first time engagement rumors have floated around. Eventually they’re either going to be true, or the two will break up. But I’m always extremely wary of stories that come out before a film releases, even if they’re true they almost always serve a dual purpose.

[hasensalat]

Can somebody explain to me the controversy around Padmavati? I read so many articles about it but I still don’t understand what the protestors are criticizing (to a point they threaten to cut off Deepika’s nose, wtf). I have to say, I know very little about Indian history and I’m just genuinely interested in what’s happening at the moment. If anyone knows...?

[salmankhanholics]

★ Tiger Zinda Hai actor Anupriya Goenka: Salman Khan has a divine personality !

Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer Tiger Zinda Hai which has been directed by Ali Abbas Zafar had Anupriya Goenka playing the main nurse. Anupriya will also be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati.

Mimansa Shekhar | December 29, 2017 

Anupriya Goenka is one face we all have seen, just that we never knew who she was or where she came from. Despite being part of innumerable advertisements and many films (Bobby Jasoos, Dishoom and Daddy), it took Anupriya some time to grab that one role – Poorna in Tiger Zinda Hai. She was the brave-heart nurse who gave a strong support to Tiger aka Salman Khan and his team during their fight against Abu Usman. Now that the film is roaring at the box office, Anupriya has come out as a tigress too. So, can we say Anupriya has finally arrived? “(laughs) That might sound very narcissist. You can definitely say Anupriya’s hardwork has paid off so far, it is looking good. That’s it!” the actor said during an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com.

Tiger Zinda Hai had the highest opening weekend of all time in Bollywood. The Christmas release was definitely a festive gift for the audience. But despite the film hard-selling on Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s reuniting, Anupriya managed to find her way and make a mark. Ask her about all the praise coming her way and she tells us, “It is obviously very overwhelming, it’s a lot to take but at the same time it’s really exciting. I had gone to Chandan theater (in Mumbai) for its screening on second day and I wasn’t expecting anyone to notice me, but it was beautiful how people surrounded me, asked for pictures and acknowledged and appreciated my work.”

Anupriya plays the main nurse among the group of 40 girls who are held hostages by a terrorist organisation in Tiger Zinda Hai. Her character of Poorna helps Indian spy agent Tiger nab the main villain and rescue all the nurses. “Those two months of shooting in Abu Dhabi were very tough. It was such an intense character, I was always in that zone, thinking about terror. There were times when it gets into you, you start imagining death. I remember for my bomb scene where there is a bomb strapped on me, I was preparing for it for two days and by the end of it I started getting these nightmares that I am dying and I won’t be able to see my family tomorrow. It does get difficult at times,” she recalled her on-shoot memories.

Anupriya was a corporate girl until she began doing theatre. This dusky beauty soon left her job to take up acting full time. She was first noticed when she did a bold ad for a clothing line themed around same sex love. Her unconventional rustic looks got her into several TVCs, a TV show and even some Telugu films. She shot for the Bharat Nirman campaign with Pradeep Sarkar and later did Nagesh Kukunoor’s yet-to-release film Maya. After doing small roles in handful Hindi movies, she auditioned for the main lead in director Ali Abbas Zafar’s previous film Sultan too. However, that didn’t work out, but it helped her bag Tiger Zinda Hai.

Ask Anupriya of working with Salman, and she happily shares, “I have learned so much. When you see him in person, you realise why he is called ‘Bhai’, why there is so much of love and affection for him. He has this presence, this aura, this sort of a divine personality and he is very giving as a human being, extremely supportive to newcomers specially. He would guide us, he would tell us what to do and he would make us comfortable. Sometimes when people give you suggestions they are kind of making you nervous, you wonder whether you are doing something wrong. But when Salman gives you suggestions, it just ups your energy level, your enthusiasm and encourages you. And he has this whole body language that you can just go to him for anything and if there is anything going wrong, he will take care of it.”

The starlet will also be seen playing Shahid Kapoor aka Ratan Singh’s first wife Nagmati in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversy laden film Padmavati. We saw a glimpse of her character in the song “Ghoomar” which has Deepika Padukone in the title role. Anupriya tells us that she shot for Padmavati before TZH. However, the hatred around the film does trouble her. “It is very hurtful because it is not just your hard work, it is the entire team’s hard work, it is Sanjay sir’s hard work. We all hope and I’m sure once the movie comes out, it’ll be worth it. The same people who are having problems, will enjoy it and will be proud of it, I’m very sure of that. Sometimes, things just happen for a reason. Once it is out, it’ll do the whole country proud,” she said.

Now that Anupriya has become a face to reckon with, is she getting meatier roles? “People always appreciated my integrity towards work. But, now when they see it on such a big scale, there is a different kind of vision that they give you which is amazing. There have been some beautiful scripts that have come my way. One or two amazing opportunities are coming up. And I hope they materialise and something beautiful comes out of it, and in 2018 we’ll be talking again about another beautiful story,” she signs off hinting at some bigger projects in her kitty!

Here’s wishing Anupriya Goenka, all the best!

Indian Express

[mylucky137276]

Padmavati row: Maharashtra min seeks ban; Ranveer extends support, and more

From criticism to protests to the life-threatening bounty placed on the cast and crew of the movie ‘Padmavati’ has attracted all sorts of controversies, with the latest being Maharashtra Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal demanding a ban on the screening of the film in the state.

"I have written a letter to the chief minister demanding a ban on the movie if it distorted historical facts," the BJP leader said.

He said any "objectionable scenes" in the movie should be deleted before its release is allowed.

Rawal said he has written to the CBFC to cancel the "certificate given to the movie" and that it be shown to a committee of expert historians.

ALSO READ: If not 'Mughal-e-Azam', then why 'Padmavati'? asks Rahul Rawail

"Requesting the CBFC to immediately cancel the certificate given to the movie 'Padmavati'. A committee comprising expert historians be allowed to watch the movie and edit the defamatory fantasies for the language, script and scenes which undermines, devalues and insults the great valour and sacrifice of Rani Padmavati which is being worshipped by lakhs of people," the letter read.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali film starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh is based on Rajput queen Padmavati.

[deepikapadukonesource]

Who’s that people threatening deepika with death?! I understand nothing.. can you explain why the heck is happening?!:/

I can not answer fully as the subject contains very sensitive issues surrounding the film, and the pervasive behavior of Bollywood, SLB team, and media letting women face the public controversy while promoting the film. 

However, I will link some resources that I think will be useful for you. Keep in mind, the article contains graphic language and I caution anyone to proceed carefully. 

I’m only doing this because I do not have a full grasp in understanding what the entire controversy is about: 

1) Wikipedia - There is a section solely on Padmavati controversy talking in depth what exactly is about and why it began months ago. 

2) DailyMail - This article talks about how extremists groups are willing to go pervasive and criminal behavior to protect their historical icon.

3) BBC - This article briefly discusses all the main points and highlights of what exactly is going on. If you feel Wikipedia is too confusing, this article will help you. 

I’m sorry I couldn’t answer your question, but I hope these links will provide answers to the questions that you may have! 

- Sonia

[ankurmutreja]

Review of the Movie

Generally, I don't waste time writing negative reviews, but the movie Padmaavat has attacked my sensibilities in more ways than one. First, this movie reinforces objectification of women. Secondly, it glorifies the abhorrent practice of Sati/Jauhar. Thirdly, this movie has duped liberals through extremely cynical marketing. Let me take up each of these issues one-by-one. Padmavati's original fame to claim is her beauty irrespective of whether it is part of history or not. Unlike Rani of Jhansi, she didn't fight any battle. The movie Padmaavat shows her as an intelligent woman with a shrewd mind. For that I am willing to give thumbs up to the movie. But the only execution of her mental faculties as shown in the movie was in her rescuing act of Ratan Singh, her husband. In that also, but for the sheer luck in the companionship of the revolting wife of Khilji, she was almost in the harem of Khilji, who didn't seem to be having any perspective on sex except rape. I would say Khilji's wife emerged as a stronger woman in the movie. Rather the very idea of fighting a war to capture another person's wife is reflective of only one thing: objectification of women. The movie doesn't show Ratan Singh to be of the same mindset, but the other stories do present him as a man crafted out of the same mould, who, though being married, went all the way from Rajasthan to Sri Lanka to woo a supposedly pretty damsel. The idea of objectification of woman is inescapable in the very name Padmavati. Why should then there be any motivation to make a movie on such a filthy subject. Padmavati is nevertheless a respected name amongst Rajputs because she committed Sati/Jauhar and didn't let Khilji touch her body. But if you have made up your mind to die, why can't you kill your prospective rapist? What will happen at the most? You will fail. If you fight till the end, your failure will be accompanied by death. But how does it matter when you were already commiting suicide! But it does matter for Rajputs because they consider woman nothing more than an object/property, and for them the object/property becomes godly when she doesn't change her master unto death. (Btw, Sati is not restricted to wives. Even slaves and mistresses were forced to commit Sati, many a times in their teenage.) An independent woman, who would rather fight her rapists, does run the risk of getting raped in the process, which is against the Rajput shaan. But to a feminist it shouldn't matter if a brave woman gets raped in the process because she fought for her freedom. The way the whole sequence of Sati/Jauhar has been potrayed with a voice over, it leaves no doubt that the movie was made with an oblique objective of glorifying Sati/Jauhar as some kind of feminism, irrespective of the disclaimer. Well...indeed, there is a right to freedom of expression, which extends even to glorification of Sati/Jauhar, but it doesn't extend to duping people with the externality of disturbing public tranquility. Karni Sena is a non-entity. In fact there are not one but three Karni Senas. Nobody heard of them before this movie. Even now nobody knows much about them. They of course don't represent Rajput honour. Ironically, like Patels and Marathas, Rajputs also seek OBC reservation, and all these Karni Senas have their genesis in agitation for OBC reservation for Rajputs in Rajasthan. How can anybody who has the objective of changing the status of Kshaytriyas to Shudras have any locus standi to fight for Kshatriya honour? Is our media so incompetent that they would not even do this little a research on Karni Sena. Of course not. They are rather crooks. Undoubtedly, Karni Sena agitation was a very cynical marketing for promotion of a mediocre movie amongst the multiplex visiting liberals, albeit with an oblique objective of promoting Sati/Jauhar as alternative feminism. Mumbai and Delhi markets comprise nearly 70% of the box office collections in the first weekend. A movie which is supposedly made with a budget of Rs 180 cr will have any chance of survival only if it recovers majority of its cost in the first weekend itself, which Padmavati has incidentally done pretty handsomely thanks to the so-called Left-Liberal media and the political parties across the spectrum. BJP ministers went overboard to fuel Karni Sena agitation, and parties like AAP have played their role in tandem with the so-called Left-Liberal media to create sympathy wave for the movie. But for the controversy, I wouldn't have given a second glance to the movie. But now I have not only watched it but am also writing a review on it. What more! This fraud is so penetrative that nobody can escape it. But of course it earns revenues for a filthy movie. Even worse, it may convert some liberals, who may start equating Sati/Jauhar with feminism. It goes without saying it will reinforce Sati/Gauhar amongst conservatives. I don't know how to end this review except by reproducing my tweet, which I tweeted as my first emotion after watching the movie (excuse me for the blank spaces, you may fill them up yourself).

  Read the full article

[newstfionline]

A Film Has Inflamed Indians. But Moviegoers Mostly Say It’s Fine.

By Jeffrey Gettleman, Kai Schultz And Suhasini Raj, NY Times, Jan. 25, 2018

JAIPUR, India--After months of controversy, weeks of threats and days of fiery protests, a contentious new Bollywood film hit the theaters in India on Thursday, and the reaction was:

What’s the big deal?

Moviegoers streamed out of heavily guarded movie theaters saying they liked the sets, the music and the grand Bollywood style of “Padmaavat,” a lavish saga about a legendary Hindu queen who may never have existed. But they couldn’t understand why so many people had violently objected to it.

“It’s silly, it’s sad, it’s ironic because actually the movie presented the Rajputs in a very good light,” said Preeti Sharma, who saw the film with her husband in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon.

The Rajputs, historically a caste of warriors, have been the ones most offended by the movie; Rajput activists said the movie was historically inaccurate and disrespectful. Hundreds of Rajput women even threatened to kill themselves over it (their elders eventually talked them down).

On Thursday, protests erupted in different cities in India, with some tire-burning and stone-throwing, but nothing major. It seems that Rajput activists may have won this battle because their campaign of threats and intimidation succeeded in terrifying many cinema owners.

In several states in northern India, which have large Rajput populations, no major cinemas dared to show the film.

The controversy goes back to the 14th century--or 16th century, depending on who you ask. In 1540, the Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote the epic “Padmavat” about a Hindu queen, Padmavati, so beautiful that a Muslim ruler besieges her entire kingdom to have her. Instead of submitting, Padmavati kills herself.

The story was set in a Rajput kingdom in Rajasthan, in northwestern India, around 1302. But whether Padmavati actually existed is a big question.

Scholars who have studied that era say they have found historical references to the Muslim ruler and the Hindu king in Jayasi’s epic--but no mention of Padmavati or a queen so beautiful that her looks started a war.

That hasn’t stopped Rajput and Hindu extremists from turning “Padmaavat” into a rallying cry. Without even seeing the film, several Rajput activists complained that Padmavati’s clothes were too skimpy; a dream sequence between her and the Muslim invader was inappropriate; and the heroism of their revered queen had been cheapened.

They attacked the crew of the film while it was in production and offered a bounty to behead the lead actress and director. They also threatened to cut off the actress’s nose.

For weeks, anxiety over the film and a debate on artistic license has dominated Indian headlines and put the public on edge. Police officials around the country have been busing in reinforcements, and on Thursday, many cinemas were ringed by packs of officers wielding long wooden sticks, just in case there was trouble.

Several schools closed on Thursday as a precaution. The day before, an angry mob of “Padmaavat” protesters, one of many across northern India, stoned a school bus full of children near New Delhi. No one was seriously hurt but video of the episode went viral, adding to the fears.

On Thursday, the worst movie-related violence seemed to have erupted in Bihar, a poor state in northern India, where bands of angry young men attacked a theater, tore up posters and vandalized vehicles.

Indian film critics weren’t much kinder. One called it “so superficial” and a “slog,” giving it two stars out of five.

Still, “Padmaavat” had “taken an excellent opening,” according to a website that tracks box-office sales.

In fact, in some places, the controversy might have even helped it gain an audience.

“I was curious to see the movie because it was making lots of noise,” said K. C. Sharma, a retired army officer, who saw the movie at a theater in a shopping mall near New Delhi.

He said he didn’t find anything offensive and that “all those people objecting to the film should see it.”

[pinkvilla]

Deepika Padukone gets emotional at an event; Padmavati row taking its toll?

Deepika Padukone’s film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Padmavati which was earlier going to release on 1st December, has been voluntarily deferred. The film was mired in controversy and threats of physical harm intensified.

Deepika Padukone and Sanjay Leela Bhansali have been given police protection following the death threats received by them. 

Recommended Read:  Deepika Padukone not a part of Don 3, confirms Ritesh Sidhwani

At a recent event, Deepika entered and exited the venue from the venue’s kitchen. She won an award at the event and while speaking to a media channel, Deepika got emotional. She spoke about being fearless and following your heart. However, Deepika appeared to be low as she interacted with the media;  was she under the weather or has the controversy revolving around film Padmavati taken its toll on the actress.

About the protests and threats, she had said, “It's appalling, it's absolutely appalling. What have we gotten ourselves into? And where have we reached as a nation? We have regressed," she said.

"The only people we are answerable to is the censor board, and I know and I believe that nothing can stop the release of this film," said Deepika, adding that the film industry's support symbolises how "this is not about 'Padmavati'... We're fighting a much bigger battle"

The makers are yet to announce another date for the film’s release. Deepika will start shooting for her next film based on Sapna Didi in March giving fuel to speculations that Padmavati will release in February.

The film stars Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh besides Deepika Padukone.

[aish-rai]

Yeah I agree with you re: Kangana, Brooke. I’m actually a big fan of hers but she should’ve really risen above all that and just done it for the sake of solidarity. If she wants people to stand up for her she has to at least extend the olive branch to others at times. Otherwise all she wants to do is play martyr. I’m disappointed in her petty immaturity.

She spoke about a couple who bullied her into silence on the Hrithik issue and people think it was Shabana and Javed. Let’s assume that that’s true (even though she never gave their names and she has a history of telling disputable versions of what people said/did during the Hrithik drama). If you’re such a truthteller, be honest about why you won’t sign the petition. The only reason she even issued a statement is because rumors started like a week ago that she was refusing to sign because no one had supported her during the Hrithik controversy (which isn’t even true, a lot of women in particular expressed admiration of her, but I’m sure that’s how she perceives it). So her saying that she supports Deepika individually holds no weight. If those rumors hadn’t started, would you have even spoken about the issue? And how exactly are you going to “support” her? I literally just wrote an article about this; the only way anything will change is through organized, definite action by multiple people in the industry. Your individual support--which was only expressed under duress and was used as a platform to take a dig at Shabana Azmi, make another woman’s trauma about your own grudges, AND make it known that you refuse to take sides politically--ultimately does nothing. You wanted people to speak up for you, to organize for you, for something MUCH less serious than what Deepika and the Padmavati team are going through. Yet you refuse to do the same for another woman. Maybe a petition won’t accomplish anything, but it certainly means more than the bullshit statement she put out. When it comes to the industry, this girl only cares about herself, and if that wasn’t clear before, it should be abundantly clear now.

Sorry, I just have a lot of feelings about this. 

[koffeewithkjo]

Do you think SLB was trying to cash in on the extra publicity Padmavati is getting because of the protests like the certification chair accused him of? Why else would he not submit the paperwork and get it certified if he was certain about that release date? Also isn’t it strange for them to just have Deepika promote the film as a solo lead type thing?

I think...in the beginning, courting controversy was good for the film. To a certain extent, I think a lot of filmmakers welcome controversy, because it turns a film into an event, and not even just a pop culture event but a political event as well. And if you miss that event, you miss out on the cultural zeitgeist. I still think, even with how heinous this entire episode has been, the controversy will actually benefit Padmavati financially. When it finally does release, no one will miss it, and those boycotting it wouldn’t have seen it anyway.

But I think the controversy got away from them. I don’t believe anyone would welcome political groups to trash their sets, beat them up, and threaten to decapitate their actresses. There’s making headlines, and then there’s needing to hire police protection because people who pose a very real threat of violence are being amplified in the media. The former is good, the latter is terrifying (and people keep treating these fringe groups as jokers, but opposition is injured and killed all the time, so...?). 

My honest opinion (based on nothing really substantial other than rumors and headlines, for the record lol) is that the movie isn’t ready yet. I don’t think they could finish the 3D conversion process that quickly, and I do think that the paperwork they turned into the censor board was incomplete. However, I think if the censor board WANTED to push it through, they could have. Instead, they rejected their application and told them to redo their paperwork. They can’t even view the film until after the paperwork is reviewed. They can take over 60 days to return a certificate if they want. They probably want the political tension to diffuse before they certify it (and perhaps the elections to get over with), and the makers probably did half-ass the process because they’ve been distracted by all this other drama. I find it very hard to believe the movie is fully complete and ready to be exhibited. So a little bit of all the rumors might be true.

As for Deepika, I have no idea why she isn’t promoting the film with Shahid. Ranveer I understand, and he’s said that he’s not going to promote the film until after it premieres anyway so that people can see there’s no objectionable content. But you would think Shahid and Deepika would be pushed as a new jodi. The fact that Shahid said to ask Deepika when they’re going to promote together makes me think he’s not voluntarily staying away, it may be part of SLB’s strategy to put Padmavati/the actress playing her front and center to avoid a) comparisons between Ranveer and Shahid and b) the notion that she’s somehow been disrespected by the film. If you remember, the promotions of Bajirao Mastani were kind of wonky as well, and Priyanka didn’t really promote the film until after its release either. People keep questioning what the actors are doing or not doing, but I think SLB is the one pulling the strings.

[thoughtfulpaperwitch-blog]

Padmavati -A Story of Courage !

There is lot of hullaboo going around for the screening of Padmavati,One side there is karni sena who threatens to disrupt the filming of Padmavati , and the other side you have one legendary film  maker who made stupendous effort to make Padmavati .

Let’s read between these two sides & Lets us also not write down a history and try to take side but put down arguments logically.

There has been different accounts of Rani Padmini’s Story , Some historian says she was a Sri Lankan and married to Kind of Chittor while some say she was an Indian .

And there is one segment which even says that she was figment of imagination.

But what so ever if we take everything into account , She was Courageous, Strong & Decisive .

That’s the main character of her, to me it would make sense if Sanjay Leela Bhansali instead to making a love saga or triangle story would praise her valour in every decision she took in her whole life till Jauhar .

But  there is thought prevalent  Bollywood cannot be complete without heroine dancing - So please,get a life .

Being Beautiful queen does not mean , She needs to dance , if we are making story of historical thing which is emotionally attached to many people , the Story should be very specific and unnecessary addition must be avoided to have masala in film , & if you really need to make such entertaining film with a good history ,then its should a inspired film not an actual story 

There is one more difference when we make story on a male character , they are intelligent , strong and Courageous throughout the film.I hope same for Rani Padmini in Padmavati film..

Film Makers,  We do understand this your business and stop fooling us by saying ,You are being creative and all , that comes but at last .

Though I do understand that Sanjay leela Bhansali is a an excellent film director and had made great films but to seek a midway he  should have reached  out to Rajput groups and would consulted them before making the script and can also have pre screening for the royal members to Rajput group.

As we would also not like if some one makes our biography and included some thing we have not done without our discretion .

But at same time threatening to kill someone is not what Rajput’s really do ,they are someone who are very quick intelligent and know the way out , Rani Padmini  preferred Sacrifice rather than harming anyone.

Today Rani Padmini or King of Chittor is not there but there Legacy remains.

So it would be better if both the parties sit down and chalk out the difference.

Let’s Make Rani Padmini Courageous and not controversial !!!